Frank Lautenberg: “the motion clearly says that taxpayers would have to choose between deducting their sales tax costs or their income tax…”

“the motion clearly says that taxpayers would have to choose between deducting their sales tax costs or their income tax costs. If a taxpayer lives in a State that chooses to have both a sales tax and an income tax, why should they be penalized? This motion is not fair for the people in my State or many States such as mine that have both sales and income taxes. The Federal Government should not be micromanaging State tax systems. If we have the expense, we ought to allow the deduction. If we are going to allow the deduction of State sales taxes, we should allow it no matter where the taxpayers live. I hope we will oppose this management from the Federal Government of how a State ought to conduct its tax system. I yield the floor and urge opposition to the motion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the Hutchison motion to instruct conferees.”